ABOUT ROB

Rob Osler is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the historical mystery series HARRIET MORROW INVESTIGATES, including book one, THE CASE OF THE MISSING MAID —a Publishers Weekly starred review, New York Times pick for standout historical novel, The Washington Post’s 5 Best Winter Mysteries, a Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choice, Lefty Winner for Best Historical Mystery Novel, an Amazon Editors Pick, and a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ+ Mystery Novel and 2026 Macavity Award. Book two, THE CASE OF THE MURDERED MUCKRAKER, also received a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly and was an instant USA Today Bestseller.

Rob also writes the short story series, Perry Winkle Whodunits, which appear in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. The series’ first short, MISS DIRECTION (Sep/Oct 2023) was a 2024 finalist for mysteries’ most prestigious prize, Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Allan Poe Award. 

Rob’s debut short story, ANALOGUE (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2021), won the Mystery Writers of America 2022 Robert L Fish Award at the Edgar Awards for best debut short story by an American Author.

Rob also wrote the contemporary comedic series Hayden & Friends Mysteries, featuring a queer amateur sleuth duo. Book one, DEVIL’S CHEW TOY, was a 2023 Best Debut Mystery Finalist for the Anthony, Macavity, Agatha, and Lefty Awards and was a CrimeReads Year’s Best. The second book, CIRQUE DU SLAY, won the 2025 Anthony Award and the Left Coast Crime Award for Best Humorous Mystery.

Forthcoming in summer 2027 is a contemporary suspense novel, THE BUTLER, featuring executive butler Clive Humphrey whose zeal for order and discipline has lethal consequences. 

Rob is published by Kensington Books and edited by John Scognamiglio.

He is represented by Stephany Evans at Ayesha Pande Literary. 

For bookstore and library events or mystery community reviews and opportunities, please contact Madeleine Brown at Kensington Publishing at mbrown@kensingtonbooks.com

For all other publicity inquiries or opportunities, please contact Kathleen Schmidt at Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations at kathleen@kmspr.com

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Rob attended college at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy. Years later, he earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Washington’s Foster School. Rob was a copywriter and principal brand strategist at leading global agencies and corporations before turning to fiction writing. After many years of living in Chicago (the setting for the Harriet Morrow series) and Seattle (the setting for the Hayden & Friends series), Rob resides in California with his husband and a tall, gray cat.

He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Authors Guild, and Queer Crime Writers.

Photo credit: Jeff Singer